Disease Outbreak Alerts

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they will be listed. Updates will be posted as they are received.

State

Disease

Dates

May 23, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

York County, ME

Confirmed case(s): Official Quarantine

Source:
Office of the Maine State Veterinarian

On May 22nd, 2018 the Office of the Maine State Veterinarian reported one confirmed case of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy ( EHM)at a private facility in York County, Maine. One Standardbred horse showed an onset of clinical signs on May 10th, 2018 including acute neurologic signs rapidly progressing to recumbency. The case was confirmed with testing sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and a quarantine was initiated on May 15th. The index case was euthanized and 12 horses remain in quarantine on the facility.

May 18, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Fauquier County, VA

Confirmed case(s): Official Quarantine

Source:
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

On May 16, 2018 The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed a diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in one horse at a sport horse farm in Fauquier County northern Virginia. The horse first showed mild neurologic signs on May 10 and was admitted directly into isolation at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center on May 16, 2018. The Equine Medical Center is not under quarantine and is operating normally. The farm in Fauquier County is under quarantine and all exposed horses are being monitored twice daily for fever (temperature over 101.50 F) and other clinical signs. The horse has not travelled off the farm prior to exhibiting clinical signs. The Equine Disease Communications Center Biosecurity web pages equinediseasecc.org/biosecurity have more information on best practices for disease prevention in horses and VDACS has more information on EHV-1 at vdacs.virginia.gov/animals-equine-herpes-virus.shtml.

May 16, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Carbon County, WY

Quarantine Released

Source:
Wyoming Livestock Board

On 5/15/18 the WLSB released the quarantine on 17 horses in Carbon County after three weeks of close observation with no clinical signs or symptoms in any of them. The index horse for this incident has been in isolation ever since onset, stabilized, and had two pairs (nasal and blood) of negative PCR tests 7 days apart and has therefore been released as well. To date, Wyoming has no other active EHM cases and no premises under quarantine for the disease.

May 15, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Orange County, CA

Quarantine Released

Source:
California Department of Food and Agriculture

On May 15, 2018, the California Department of Food and Agriculture released the Orange County Premises from quarantine. There are currently no premises in California under quarantine for Equine Herpesvirus-1.

May 14, 2018

Equine Infectious Anemia

Maverick and Bexar Counties, TX

Confirmed case(s): Official Quarantine

Source:
Texas Animal Health Commission

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials confirmed Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in one Maverick County Quarter Horse and one Bexar County Quarter Horse. The Bexar County horse has been euthanized and the premises will remain under quarantine until requirements for release have been met. The Maverick County horse is currently being maintained in a quarantine facility. TAHC staff is working closely with owners and veterinarians to monitor potentially exposed horses and implement biosecurity measures.

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) confirmed Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), in a Lubbock County barrel racing horse on May 9, 2018. The recent case of EHM reported in Texas was confirmed in a horse in Montgomery County.The newly identified horse showed signs or respiratory illness, fever, nasal discharge, and ataxia when evaluated by a local veterinarian. The premises is under movement restrictions and TAHC staff is working closely with the owner and veterinarian to monitor potentially exposed horses and implement biosecurity measures. Prior to confirmation, both the Montgomery and Lubbock County positive horses attended a barrel racing event at the Oklahoma City Fair Grounds on April 25-30, 2018. The Lubbock County horse did not travel to any other events. TAHC is coordinating with Oklahoma Department of Agriculture staff, who contacted event management, participants, and veterinarians to ensure enhanced surveillance and biosecurity measures are taken.

May 11, 2018

Equine Herpes Viruses

Cherokee County, GA

Quarantine Released

Source:
Georgia Department of Agriculture

Effective May 8th, the Georgia Department of Agriculture released the quarantine associated with an Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) case in Cherokee County

May 10, 2018

Strangles

Newport County, RI

Confirmed case(s): Official Quarantine

Source:
Rhode Island State Veterinarian

The Rhode Island State Veterinarian confirmed strangles in a single horse housed at a multi-barn facility in Newport County. The horse had been at the facility for several weeks before the diagnosis was made on 5/3/2018 via PCR on a nasopharyngeal wash. There was no recent interstate travel history on this horse. To date, no other horses in the barn with this horse have been clinically affected. The RI State Veterinarian placed all horses that are stabled with the affected horse in the same barn under quarantine on 5/4/2018. All horses in that barn are undergoing daily temperature checks and visual checks for signs of clinical strangles. Biosecurity measures are in place for this barn and other horses at the facility in separate barns are also being monitored for signs of clinical strangles but are not quarantined.

The Washington State Veterinarian’s office received a report of a positive Equine Herpes Virus -1 non-neuropathogenic (wildtype) strain in a single horse in King County. The horse is in isolation and the facility is currently under quarantine.

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